Separator



' (No Model.) 2 sheets-sheen 1.

o. M. MORSE. SBPARATOR.-

Patented Junef28, 1898.

n: nanars Psfcns co.. Pnc'rou'rno.. wnsmnamu. o

(No Model.) 2 `snets4sheem 2.

0. MMORSB.

SEPARATOR.

No.1606,292. Y Patented June 28, `1898. 7&7 'at M 'ORVILLE M. MORSE, OF JAOKSONfMIGHIGAN.

S EPARATO R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 606,292, dated June 28, 1898. Application filed May 6,1895. Serial No. 548,250. (No model.)

To a/Z whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ORVILLE M. MORSE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jackson, in the county of Jackson and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Separators, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention consists in the construction of a screen and the feed device for the material overgthe screen, partition-board, floor, or other plane surface.

The invention in particular consists in the construction of a frame arranged-to freely reciprocate forward and back from a fixed point', at the same time to slightly rise above the surface, to evenly and quickly feed the ma" terial to the discharge end of the screen.

The invention further consistsin the'construction, arrangement, and combination of the various parts, all as more fully hereinafter described.

In the drawings, Figure l is avertical central longitudinal section through a separator embodyingmyinvention. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section thereof. Fig.l 3 is an enlarged section, similar to Fig. l, of one end of the screen, showing the feed-frame in different positions. Fig. 4. is a section, similar to Fig. 3, of a slightly-modified form of support fdr the frame. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section, similar to Fig. l, of a modified form of frame; and Fig. 6 is a top plan view thereof.

A is the sifting frame orboX, in which is the sifting or screen surface B, of cloth, wire, or other material.

C is the feed-spout at one end of the screen. D is the discharge-spout at the other end thereof. l

E is the iioor or bottom partition-boardbelow the screen, at the end of which is the discharge-spout F.

G is the drive-shaft, having the disk G on its end, having the 'crank connection II with the screen-frame, whereby the rotation of the shaft causes the screen to gyrate in a circular path on its suspending-links I.

If the screen thus constructed and driven were arranged horizontally, the material would feed in a circular path upon the screen, but would not feed longitudinally. Some means must therefore be provided to effect this feeding of the material evenly to one end of the screen. This has been done by inclining the screen, which is not desirable, or by placing check-valves or swinging plates, which while moving freely with the material in one direction stop or check the material in its movement in the reverse direction. It has also been done by a cover or damper adapted to drop on the lshifting material to hold it from movement in one direction. In such previous constructions-as, for instance, that shown in my previous patent, No. 529,87A 2, of November 27, lS94.-the friction of the pivotal bearing of the check-valves is such as to cause quick wearing and to a certain extent lessen the efficiency of the feeding forward of the material and in no wise acting as a positive feed for the material.

My present construction overcomes the eX isting objections, simplifies the device, may

be made to positively feed the material over the screen, feeds the material more evenly, and will work to betteradvantage in a clogged condition of the material.

The feed device as I have shown itin Figs. l, 2, 3, and 4 consists of a frame comprising the feed bars or strips J, connected by the longitudinal or connecting members K. This frame is swung above the screen (or other plane surface over which the material is to be, fedlpreferably bylinks of such construe tion that the Afeed-frame will freely swing,

and the cross-bars mayrise and fall in relatio'n to the lplane surface, for the purpose lhereinafter to be set forth.

The construction I pi'efer is that shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, in which the links are in the form of straps L, connected at one end to the ,frame and at the other end to blocks M, circular or segmental and capable of a limited rotation for the purpose of vertically adj ust ing the feed-framein relation to the screen. rI-hese blocks maybe support-ed on transverse shafts M', as shownl in Figl 2, with means, such as the arm or crank N, for turning the shaft. At the ends of thekframe I preferably place springs O or otherbuffers. The crossbars preferably have the front vertical face u. and the rear inclined face Z), the two faces coming together at an acute angle at the lower edge of the cross-bar.

In Fig. l I have shown a rigid link L piv- IOO oted at its upper end to the frame and having a vertical slot O at the lower end, in which slidingly engages the pivot-pin O2 on the frame.

The feed-frame when the screen is stationary stands as shown in full lines, Figs. l and 4, one end abutting against the end of the boX to act as astop to prevent the frame from swinging but in one direction from its initial position. Any other stop may be provided.

The parts being thus constructed, motion being imparted to the screen-box as it reaches its forward point and begins to return the momentum ,of the frame will cause it to swing forward and assume the position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 4f, at the same time that the grain moves forward or as the screen moves back beneath the grain. lf, as is desirable, this frame be made heavier than the material which it is intended to feed, its momentum will cause it to throw such material as it may strike in its forward movement beyond the normal travel of the material, distributing the same evenly over the screen. As soon as it has reached the limit of its forward 'movement its weight will cause it to quickly fall to its initial position before the material is fed in the opposite direction, so that when the material is oppositely fed it will be stopped by the front fiat face a of the crossbars.

The advantage of the inclined rear face for the cross-bars is that as the frame swings back to the vertical position of the links where the material happens to be under the cross-bar it will tend t-o ride over the material instead of simply moving it back, as it might do if it were a vertical face. The flexible link or the flexible or loose connection (shown in Figs. 3 and 4) permits this lifting of the frame.

By forming the feed device in asingle frame it may be suspended by a few links, (either as shown in Figs. 3 or 4, preferably the latter,) greatly reducing the frictional resistance to its swinging and thereby obtaining quick action and the full benefit of the weight of the frame to positively feed the material, as described. This construction of feed device will work to good advantage in case the material is fed too rapidly and piles up on the surface, while with the separate checkvalves under such conditions they simply move forward and back in the material and actually check the forward motion of the material.

In Figs. 5 and G I have shown a slightlymodified form comprising'the feed-frame, as described, but instead of suspending it by links I suspend it by rollers P, running on rails F, having the inclined end sections Q, up which they run to effect the lifting of the cross-bars to permit the free movement of the material. These rails are longitudinally ad justable by means of bolts R, and S is a correspondingly-adjustable stop for the frame bars ofthe frame and which in the movement of the parts will move over or against the screen to clean the meshes.. These cleaners or beaters I have shown as flexible strips of leather, ratan, or they may be light chains o'r strings or other devices, which will act to clean the meshes of the screen in the movement of the feed-frame.

What I claim as my invention is-.-=

1. The combination with a plane surfacel and mea-ns for imparting motion thereto, vof a feed device for loose material on said surface comprisinga frame adapted to be moved forward by the movement of the plane surface, stops on said frame arranged in proximity to said plane surface and shaped to engage and positively move forward the material in the forward movement of the frame and to ride over and pass the material in the return movement of the frame.

2. The combination with the plane surface, devices for imparting motion thereto, of a feed device for the material consisting of a swinging frame having a seriesof separated stops fixedly secured thereon and arranged in proximity to the surface, the frame moving by the motion imparted to the surface to cause said stops to engage and positively feed and distribute the material over the surface.

3. The combination with a plane surface and means for imparting a movement thereto, of a device for positively feeding loose mate* rial on said surface comprising a frame adapted to be moved longitudinally by the motion of the plane surface, a series of separated plates or bars carried by said frame, of a shape adapted to engage and positively feed the material in the forward movement of the frame and being free to rise and ride over the materia-l in the backward movement of the frame, and a stop for limiting the movement of the frame in one direction.

4E. A feed device for loose material upon moving plane surfaces comprising an end wise-movable feed-frame, having a series of separated transverse plates or bars, having straight front faces and inclined rear faces, means for limiting the movement of the frame in one direction, the frame being so supported as to be free to rise and ride over the material in its backward or return movement.

5. A feed device for loose material upon a moving plane surface, comprising a recipro- IOO IIO

IZO

eating frame, stops thereon adapted to engage the material and positively feed it in the forward movement of the frame, and devices for supporting said frame over the plane surface so that it is free to rise in the return movement of the frame.

6. The combination of the screen-frame, the screen therein, means for imparting Inotion thereto, a feed-frame above'the screen iiexible straps for suspending the feed-frame over the screen, circular disks secured to the screen to which the upper ends of the straps are secured, and means for rotating the disks to adjust the feed-frame, substantially as described.

7. The combination of the screen-frame, thescreen therein, means for imparting motion thereto, a feed-frame above the screen, 

